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Pacific Region News
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Posted on Mar 21 2000
Cook Is. wants more independence
AVARUA, Rarotonga, Cook Islands—Acting Prime Minister Norman George has announced that the government wants the country to become a fully independent nation, but not if it means loss of dual New Zealand
citizenship.
George said the Cook Islands should be seen internationally as a fully sovereign and independent state, with membership in the United Nations. The country now is self-governing in association with New Zealand.
The Cooks last week formalized bilateral diplomatic relations with France.
No confidence motion planned in Solomons
HONIARA, Solomon Islands—Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa’alu has told reporters that moves are afoot to introduce a motion of no confidence in his leadership at the next meeting of Parliament in April.
Ulufa’alu would not elaborate, but indicated that the opposition was
lobbying hard for the motion.
The basis of the move is what the opposition calls the government’s poor handling of the worsening ethnic crisis between Guadalcanal and Malaita islanders over land rights and jobs.
New US coral bill introduced
WASHINGTON, D.C.—American Samoa’s congressional delegate, Eni Faleomavaega, has introduced bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives to establish a permanent national coral reef conservation program.
It calls for $60 million to be authorized over four years to “assess the size and health of the coral reefs in United States waters, and to formulate a plan to preserve these reefs,” Faleomavaega said.
Of the total funding, the legislation calls for $40 million to be made be available for coral reef conservation grants.”
Shark attacks fisherman in N. Caledonia
NOUMEA, New Caledonia—A 35-year old spear fisherman has been killed by a tiger shark near Poum, north of the capital.
The shark severed one of Gilbert Bui Van Minh’s arms and part of his abdomen. He died almost instantly.
Residents said it was the first shark death in New Caledonia in many years. (Pacific Islands Report)
